After a messy divorce, Joe Jonas finds himself lost within the inability to move on with his life. That is, until he unexpectedly starts to feel a love he never thought he'd experience again, let alone with a stranger.
First Installment of Trilogy
As the weeks went on, I learned just how much he meant by saying he lived in a suitcase. I was able to take breaks and fly back to my apartment, allowing my body to catch up from the amount of traveling I was doing for the sake of spending time with Joe. He, on the other hand, never seemed to be able to have a moment where his body could catch up. He ran on caffeine, adrenaline, and the persistence to do whatever it took to split up his energy equally to everyone but himself.
I looked to my right, seeing Joe completely exhausted as he cuddled his pillow that gave some cushion for his head to rest on. There was no way his position was comfortable, but I didn't have the heart to wake him up.
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"You excited to meet the rest of our crazy family?" Nick sat in the seat across from me, a rather large table in between us.
It was just Nick, Joe and I traveling together to North Carolina for Thanksgiving. Priyanka and Malti were flying from London, and Joe's daughters were flying out from London the following day with Abby.
"I am," I smiled at him, "Nervous, but excited."
"Your family won't be joining?"
"No," I replied, "They don't really celebrate it, so it's not like they're missing out, or that I'm missing out on spending it with them. It would just be super depressing and boring."
"Has Joe given you the run down on what to expect yet?" he asked.
"Not really," I gazed over at Joe still fast asleep.
He followed my eyes with his, landing on Joe, "I know he'd hate hearing me say this, but I'm worried about him."
"Me too," I whispered. Even when we were physically together, he never seemed completely present. "What he's doing isn't working," I looked back at Nick.
"Taking three different flights within twenty-four hours shouldn't be a common thing," he slightly shook his head in disapproval, "Eventually, he's going to crash."
"Hey, why are Willa and Delphine taking a different flight than Pri and Malti?" I questioned. Surely it would've been easier for everyone if they traveled together since they were flying from the same place.
He let out a single chuckle, "Pri and Sophie would never be in the same room again. Not after everything that happened."
"With Joe or...?" I prompted, slightly cocking my head.
"Mostly, yeah," he answered, "We had this plan for all four of us to move to London with our daughters, so we would stay close as a family. Pri and Sophie saw each other as sisters. They were as close as Joe and I are. Shit, I even considered her a sister."
It was my turn to listen to him. I knew Joe's divorce was hard on him, but it was evident that it affected the whole family. There was trust that needed to be earned now. His brothers weren't protective just because they were his brothers. They were protecting the whole family from another disaster.
"But hey, if you ever travel to London with Joe, know that my home is open for you too," he offered up, "You've been good for him. And his daughters too. Oh, also, Malti said she wants to show you what she's learned in Hindi, so be prepared for an earful later."
"I can't wait," I laughed, "And thank you. For opening your home up to me. For being there for me and giving me advice. For being a friend. And for being an amazing little big brother."
"I mean, I'm sure you get it. You have a big sister," he said, "I'm sure there's been times you've had to be the little big sister."
"Yeah," I nodded, glancing out the window at the surrounding clouds at our level, "I'd like to believe us younger siblings inherited all the wisdom."
"We definitely did," he winked with a grin.
Our conversations were kept lighthearted throughout the remainder of the flight, giving me a chance to know a different side of him. His dry sense of humor mixed with allowing himself to be free from seriousness was rewarding to see.
While Nick started to gather his belongings, I took the opportunity to wake Joe up, letting him know we had landed.
"Babe," I ran my fingers through his curls and kissed his cheek, "We're here."
He rubbed his eyes as they started to open with each blink, "What time is it?"
"I don't know," I hadn't yet turned my phone on, "I think like two? Two-thirty?"
Even through sleeping five hours, he still didn't look like he slept a wink. Groggily and slowly, he double-checked to make sure he had gotten all of his bags and miscellaneous items he brought along. "Did you have anything on the top?" he gestured to the overhead compartment.
"I got it," Nick stepped in, lifting out my carry-on luggage and setting it carefully down next to me.
I thanked him before giving him room to go ahead of Joe and I. "You okay?" I asked Joe once we were alone.
"Just tired," he flatly smiled, putting his arm around my neck to pull me close enough to give me a kiss.
"C'mon," I grabbed his hand, pulling him with me, "Let's go so you can get some much-needed sleep in an actual bed."
